The first developer preview of Android P was released earlier this month, and some of the most noticeable visual changes were to be found in the quick settings panel. Icons are now placed inside circles which are blue if active/on and greyed out if inactive/off. It's too early to say for sure if these changes will remain the same in the final version, but if Chrome OS 67 is anything to go by, they may be pretty much final.

The latest version of Google's desktop, laptop, and now tablet OS introduces a new style for its quick settings panel, and it's clear the design teams within Google are working together to create a unified look. With Android P in dark mode (set a dark wallpaper) the similarities are more pronounced, although it's not yet clear if Chrome OS 67 has a corresponding light mode.

Left: Android P. Right: Chrome OS 67.

To get the new quick settings tray you'll need to be on the dev channel for Chrome OS with the following flag enabled: #enable-system-tray-unified. This means Google is still testing the design out, so it's subject to change ahead of reaching the stable channel or being enabled by default.

The rounded design and color palette are both very similar, and this homogeny can be seen as a further step towards a more consistent experience across Google's two major operating systems. This makes even more sense now that Chrome OS tablets are a thing, as the new interface looks much more touch-friendly. I expect we'll see even more design unification across Google products moving forward, and that can only be a good thing.

Not sure what is "weird" about it.
When you have a dark coloured background, you need a good contrast colour. White, may be a bit too bright, and light blue seems to me just enough.
The light gray colour is already being used anyway, and light blue seems to be a good choice.

The sad part is that in fact this (apparently the original idea) still looks better, I guess because the background isn't completely dark and/or the blue tone is a little more pleasant.

C Lo

LOL Honeycomb all over again.

Grahaman27

rounded corners are definitely not honeycomb.

NinjaByte

I would love to see unification of Chrome OS and Android. May not be completely unified from Core but the experiences need to be good. And Google can do better than Microsoft.

SpadeX

It fits on Chrome OS more so than on Android lmao.

CasperTFG

How's that Play Store support everybody? Because, us Acer Chromeboxers wouldn't know.

Marc

And your complaining to a comment section for what apparent reason?
The description says you have to be on Dev mode, and to have the Play Store, all devices up to a certain release date has to have it.
If you have a said older device or a incompatible device, take it up with Acer or Google... not a Disqus comment section.

It's a new Acer Chromebox CX-i2 with the i3 Pentium fifth generation and has been 'Planned' for Play Store support for more than a year. In fact, there's only one...1...chromebox (AOpen) that has the stable version.

I understand your need to want to play moderator but, sell that silly someplace else, not under my post.

Marc

By telling us that you don't have the update...what do you expect us to do or say? No one on here can help you or has a idea.

He wasn't complaining, he was just being curious since his Acer Chromebox is not supported...

Grey

It looks very sloppy. I can't really tell what's what at a glance. Why is the battery life so small? Isn't that one of the most important things to see?

misc

It's Dev channel, hidden behind a flag. Still plenty time to clean it up.

Grey

That's good, I hope so! I am really bullish on the future of Chrome OS and Chromebooks. Getting Android App support - essentially games - is a real deal saver. And as everything switches to HTML5, it means I can buy one for my mom and she won't complain that she needs Flash and make me come over.

fijisiv

For some reason Google hates showing the battery status. Just ask any Nexus or Pixel owner. Meanwhile OEM phones have been showing the battery status in the notification bar since ICS, maybe earlier.

Grey

My Freecell application is where I go to check my battery 9/10. True story not even joking.

I just need this theme to be on all parts of the OS, or at least an option to enable it.

#BlackThemesForevah

reneMAC

just for the record, the same setting is also available in the beta channel, though it doesn't appear to be working quite right, at least not on a PixelBook. The popup only has a lock, settings, and power button on it, nothing else.

66.0.3359.67 (Official Build ) beta (64-bit)

thecoolkid 😎

OMG, did they hire a 3-year-old as the head of design? 😐

Nathan J

Coming from the bottom like iOS's Control Center? Yes please! I find it so ironic that only Apple is making small and medium phones anymore, where most users can easily reach the top, and yet the controls flow from the bottom. Tab bars are on the bottom, Control Center comes from the bottom, and the multi-purpose Home button is, well, on the bottom. And Android OEMs are going with the "go big or go home" thing, and Android has everything coming from the top! Frankly, it's poor design. And ironically, AOSPA or Paranoid Android had the right idea, like five or six years ago. Pie control. The idea that you can touch the edge of the screen and draw out a virtual hemisphere of controls. It was a thing of pure beauty, and when it worked (trigger areas were configurable), it rapidly approached perfection. I realise it's not ideal for the average user, e.g. your mom (or mine). Still, if I had Google's ear for a redesign of the interface, I would divide the screen into zones. Controls at the bottom, content in the middle (which is the majority) and non-interactive information at the top. It's not about Apple being right or Google being wrong. It's about where your thumb is.

JR3

Chrome OS is easier coming from the bottom.....it's on large laptops and small devices.....